Manchester sports brand Sudu launches collection as it boosts grassroots football
With grassroots sport a big focus for getting young people into various activities, Manchester-based sportswear brand Sudu has teamed up with related UK charity Sported.
The brand said it's investing thousands of pounds into grassroots footballing communities, starting with two local Manchester clubs, CUKI [Can U Kick It] FC and Rushford Park FC.
It coincides with Sudu launching its 'Play' product range -- a 10-piece football-inspired menswear collection designed for training, playing and competing.
The range also goes out to appeal consumers looking for activewear that blends 'style and performance for everyday athletes, both on and off the pitch'.
Vinny Clark, CEO of Sudu parent Levy Merchandising/Levy UK & Ireland, said: 'To date, we've looked towards championing and investing in communities where we can with everything we do, and we'll continue to do this as sport - and in this instance football - has the power to transcend and transform communities.
'These communities are the backbone of our societies, and with the launch of our exciting new Play collection, which is all about passion, the journey and playing without limits, we wanted to find a way to give back while celebrating inspiring stories of individuals who have found strength and resilience through football.'
Looking ahead, Sudu said it will continue to invest in community sport, partnering with and working with more teams in the near future, including through an upcoming activation with the Wolves Foundation, the charitable arm of Premier League side, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, of which Sudu is the club's official technical kit partner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
Huawei founder says chips still lag 'one generation' behind US
Washington last month unveiled fresh guidelines warning firms that using Chinese-made high-tech AI semiconductors, specifically Huawei's Ascend chips, would put them at risk of violating US export controls. The Shenzhen-based company has been at the centre of an intense standoff between the economic supergiants after Washington warned its equipment could be used for espionage byBeijing, an allegation Huawei denies. Speaking to the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, 80-year-old Ren insisted the United States had "exaggerated" Huawei's achievements. Tougher controls in recent years have prevented US chip giant Nvidia, one of Huawei's rivals, from selling certain AI semiconductors -- widely regarded as the most advanced in the world -- to Chinese firms. As a result, it is now facing tougher competition from local players in the crucial market, including Huawei. Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang told reporters last month that Chinese companies "are very, very talented and very determined, and the export control gave them the spirit, the energy and the government support to accelerate their development". But Ren said Huawei was "not that great yet", according to the article published on the newspaper's front page Tuesday. "Many companies in China are making chips, and quite a few are doing well -- Huawei is just one of them," he added. When asked about "external blockades and suppression" -- a veiled reference to US export restrictions on Beijing -- Ren said he had "never thought about it". "Don't dwell on the difficulties, just get the job done and move forward step by step," he added. Sanctions since 2019 have curtailed the firm's access to US-made components and technologies, forcing it to diversify its growth strategy. China has accused the United States of "bullying" and "abusing export controls to suppress and contain" the country's firms.
Fashion Network
16 hours ago
- Fashion Network
GGZ strengthens portfolio with Grifoni acquisition
GGZ — the Padua-based company that owns the Vicolo, Solotre, and Amaranto brands — has acquired 100% of Grifoni, a Venetian brand founded in 1992, and has created a dedicated business unit. The company aims to enrich its high-end segment offering with this acquisition. "With this operation, we are not only expanding business opportunities but also laying the foundations for an evolution that will integrate new partners throughout the supply chain. We want to strengthen our capacity for innovation and consolidate our leadership across various market segments," said Massimo Zanchi, CEO of GGZ. "Grifoni has enormous potential. The path will be gradual, but this acquisition adds a complementary dimension to our current assets. This is an important investment that focuses on the brand's vision, talent, and identity." The new ownership will present the first collection designed by Grifoni for Spring/Summer 2026. The relaunch will also revise the brand's identity to project a more contemporary aesthetic consistent with its future positioning, while respecting its DNA. The sales strategy will include internationalization and optimization of the wholesale network. In 2024, GGZ recorded total sales of 82 million euros and achieved an export share of 38%.
Fashion Network
18 hours ago
- Fashion Network
South African clothing retailers add stores as economic forecast weakens
'There is a level of retail saturation in South Africa and when economic growth is so weak, there's limited scope for organic space growth,' said Atiyyah Vawda, an executive director at Avior Capital Markets in Johannesburg. 'So new growth comes from brands they recently acquired and under-penetrated brands that do not have sufficient exposure in particular areas.' Still, retailers have slowed space growth compared to a year ago and carefully evaluate new openings to ensure sufficient returns, Vawda said. 'A huge amount of development is taking place outside of major metro areas in the country,' TFG Chief Executive Officer Anthony Thunström said in an interview Friday. In these areas, 'there's a massive informal economy and a lot of its cash often isn't really measured in official GDP numbers.' Retailers remain selective about store expansion and may open fewer outlets. 'We don't want to get sucked into a space race,' Mr Price CEO Mark Blair told reporters. 'It's not just growth, it's quality space,' that meets strict profitability criteria. Blair said last year, the Durban-based company rejected up to 70% of the locations offered. Clothing retailers account for three of the five worst-performing stocks on the FTSE/JSE Retailers Index this year, with building material retailers occupying the other two spots. Shoppers seeking T-shirts and shoes that fit their budgets are also increasing their online purchases. Almost 6% of TFG's local sales come through its online Bash platform, and the company expects that share to nearly double over the next two or three years. This trend may also temper the growth of full retail outlets, as more orders ship from large distribution centers and so-called dark stores. 'That stock doesn't necessarily have to sit in fully lit stores anymore,' Thunström said. 'We can make it more efficient.' TFG's online unit recently became profitable, about two years ahead of schedule.
